The North America 100 Finest Mountains ranked by primary factor.

The list below
identifies and ranks the 100 North American mountains
with the largest prominence or primary factor.
A vertical ascent on foot of at least
600 meter should be honored in order to qualify as a legitimate climb, many
peaks will require more.

The primary factor of a mountain is the minimal vertical drop from
its summit before one can ascend a higher peak. In terms of map contours, this vertical drop
is defined by the first contour that encircles a
higher peak and the preceeding (higher) contour line which has the peak in question as the
highest point inside its closed curve. Between these two contour lines lies the (usually unique)
defining saddle of the mountain.

North America is defined to extend to the point where it would first separate from South America
if the sea level increased. We do not consider the man made Panama canal. This saddle is located
in Nicaragua.

There are 4 island peaks among the top 50, and 10 island peaks among the top 100.

This list is based on data compiled by Mike Cleven, Andy Martin, Aaron Maizlish, Edward Earl and several
others.
More information can be found here.

Confirmed or suspected corrections are most welcome by email to: petter@ii.uib.no
Copyright 2000-2008, Petter Bjørstad.
I appreciate that use of these data is acknowledged including a link to
my main mountain page.

Two stars behind the rank means that I have climbed it (18/50, 21/100), (24/114).